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Master of International Security

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Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Engineering students in Ecuador give locals a leg up

Jennifer Pocock — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 18:37:38 +0000

Engineering students in Ecuador give locals a leg up Jennifer Pocock Wed, 06/11/2025 - 14:37

In This Story

Ketul Popat

Shani Ross

Sixteen students from George �鶹��Ƶ’s College of Engineering and Computing took an early summer ROMP in Quito.

Computer engineering major Darion El shapes a prosthetic as ROMP prostheticist Mireya Moreno supervises.
Photo by Shani Ross

It could have been just another frivolous start to the summer, full of parties and pools before kicking off internships and jobs. Instead, these students opted to change lives: those of amputees—and their own.

From May 16 to 26, 16 students in the BENG 417 Bioengineering World Health class with trip leaders Claudia Borke and Shani Ross worked in Quito, Ecuador, with the Range of Motion Project (ROMP) to fit locals with high-quality prosthetic devices. Ketul Popat, chair of the Department of Bioengineering, brought the ROMP program to George �鶹��Ƶ after a successful run at Colorado State University.

“This was the first year that we did this,” he said. “The goal was to give more hands-on experience to students so they could see how a background in engineering could make a difference in people’s lives instantly.”

Different styles of prosthetics are displayed with shoes at the ROMP workshop. Photo by Darion El

The students absolutely felt the difference. Nicolas Garcia Callejas is a rising senior who began his academic career as a pre-med nursing student, earned an associate’s degree in health science, and is now hurtling through undergrad and straight into a master’s in bioengineering with George �鶹��Ƶ’s Bachelor’s Accelerated Master’s (BAM) program.

“We got to know the patients and help them through the process. Then we got to do everything from scratch in making the prosthetics,” he said. “We went from taking measurements, doing the sculpting and molding, refinements around the socket, and building the prosthetic. It was a full 9-5 job, but the time flew by because I was having fun.”

This trip, Garcia Callejas said, lit a fire in him to continue working with ROMP. Not only did he get to help others, as he wanted to do as a nursing student, but he could also make things hands-on and use his language skills to help translate. “ROMP was a really cool experience. I fell in love with the people there.”

Andres Miguel Cruz Guzman was another student who transferred to George �鶹��Ƶ from a community college with an associate’s degree in engineering. This mechanical engineering major wants to eventually work on solar and water technology projects, but the personal and hands-on aspect of the Ecuador program attracted him.

“I liked that we were going to work directly with the patients,” he said. “The prosthetics are going on their bodies and will be something they wear for the next three years. I was intrigued by that challenge.”

One thing he didn’t anticipate, however, was the emotional aspect of the work. “I saw one 12-year-old boy walk for the first time. It didn’t hit me at the moment, but at bedtime the impact that we had on his life overwhelmed me,” he said.

Popat said that one thing that struck him was how quickly the students adapted to the work. “I went on the third day, and it didn’t seem like the students were new there,” he said. “They were already very comfortable with what they were doing.”

And that’s the kicker (pun intended). These programs are so valuable because they enable students to see, in a very short time, how their years of study prepared them to make a difference in the world.

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Carter School students attend the Oxford Consortium for Human Rights

Katarina Benson — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 17:08:27 +0000

Carter School students attend the Oxford Consortium for Human Rights Katarina Benson Mon, 04/21/2025 - 13:08

Four �鶹��Ƶ students from the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution traveled to Oxford University’s Magdalen College in the United Kingdom with Carter School dean Alpaslan Özerdem for the 2025 Oxford Consortium for Human Rights (OCHR). 

Billy Agwanda Nyadera, Anulina Sen, Hyoin Kim, and Avery Shippen attended the 2025 workshop “Human Rights in War and Climate Emergency” March 24 – 30, which explored the nature of modern warfare and the legal protections afforded to civilians, combatants, and detainees, as well as the science of climate change and its impact on humanity. 

Carter School students with Dean Özerdem. Photo provided

The workshop also examined the intersection of climate change and modern warfare, spotlighting the ramifications of combat on local environments. During the week-long event, the four students attended seminars on artificial intelligence (AI) and the impact of new technology, the use of religion in resolution tactics, mobilizing responses to build compassionate and just communities, and other topics.

“By joining this consortium, the Carter School offers its students a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Not only do they get to collaborate with peers from other leading U.S. universities, but they also engage in a transformative learning experience guided by distinguished scholars from the University of Oxford,” Özerdem said. “Studying and living in Oxford—even for just one week—provides students with a unique and inspiring environment that fosters intellectual growth, enhances self-confidence, and broadens their academic horizons.”

“This immersive experience also significantly strengthens their professional development and employability prospects after graduation, equipping them with the global perspective and collaborative skills sought after in today’s competitive world,” he added.

Sen, a master’s student at the Carter School, found the setting and the dialogue inspiring. “The Oxford Consortium has clarified my research, showed me possibilities in this field and led to unexpected conversations that challenged my views.”

"Attending the Oxford Consortium deepened my understanding of the intersection between war, climate emergencies, and human rights, said Kim, a conflict resolution student at the �鶹��Ƶ Korea campus who put what she learned into practice upon returning to campus. “I immediately turned my insights into action by organizing a campus event where students could share actions for peace through storytelling."

The students found the seminars to be of immense value to their own research as well as to their understanding of the modern conflict, the threat of climate change, and the crossover of the two areas of research and their impact on human rights. 

"I saw and experienced the fusion of minds and hearts in pursuit of solutions to some of the most pertinent issues facing our societies today,” said Nyadera, a Carter School doctoral student. “I feel profoundly grateful for the opportunity to participate and contribute to this pioneering program to connect Carter School student community with global conversations and networks. OCHR has been a true catalyst for my own work."

Shippen, an undergraduate student at the Carter School and the Honors College, also appreciated the opportunity the conference provided. “It helped me better understand the connection of human rights, war, and climate emergencies, as well as how I can help address these topics as a student,” Shippen said. “As someone passionate about global education, it was inspiring to learn from professionals and faculty who care deeply about human rights and the way they intersect with global challenges."

In This Story

Alpaslan Özerdem

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Professor, students travel to Rwanda for peace-building mission

Shayla Brown — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 14:14:32 +0000

Professor, students travel to Rwanda for peace-building mission Shayla Brown Wed, 04/16/2025 - 10:14

This spring, �鶹��Ƶ Professor Al Fuertes traveled to Rwanda to facilitate workshops for former victims and perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan mass genocide.

“These are people who have extended forgiveness and reconciliation, something many of us might think is surreal or impossible,” said Fuertes, who teaches in the School of Integrative Studies in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. “But this is proof that even against the backdrop of genocide, it’s possible.”

Al Fuertes (bottom center) at a peace-building workshop in Rwanda. Photo provided.

Fuertes, who has a background in conflict analysis and resolution and specializes in trauma healing, has previously traveled to Rwanda in March and November 2024, and has taken students with him on some of his excursions as part of a study-abroad program for which he is the faculty director.

His most recent trip was in collaboration with the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at the Protestant University of Rwanda (PUR) located in Huye District. Fuertes also connected and collaborated with the grassroots organization, "Light Group" in Remera, and the Aegis Trust, a program component of the Rwanda Genocidal Memorial.

Al Fuertes conducting a peace-building workshop. Photo provided.

“It's a different level of learning when students have the opportunity to meet firsthand those who were involved or impacted and are now sharing their stories,” said Fuertes.

“It is an extremely freeing and life-changing thing for students to experience, especially those who don't necessarily believe in forgiveness or who struggle to forgive.”

Each semester, Fuertes hosts a panel presentation of Rwandan survivors as part of the learning activities in my graduate courses CONF 695 Praxis of Forgiveness and Reconciliation amid Polarization and CONF 695 Psychosocial Trauma Healing. This spring semester’s panel resulted in increased participation from George �鶹��Ƶ students.

“Knowing that one of the challenges to reconciliation in Rwanda is poverty, students from my trauma-informed and resilience-oriented practice class decided to donate 15 goats to families of both former perpetrators and former victims, now survivors,” said Fuertes.

Dianne Rambo, BIS in Peacebuilding and Well-Being Studies ’24, has been a federal contractor in the intelligence world for more than 20 years. She came back to George �鶹��Ƶ to study the process of healing childhood trauma in adults in hopes of becoming a mental health counselor.

“I took [CONF 695 the Praxis of Forgiveness and Reconciliation] with Al, and the course material and experiential learning have really changed the course of my life and career goals,” said Rambo, who met Fuertes at an online workshop for forgiveness and reconciliation.

Rambo, who is currently a non-degree graduate student in George �鶹��Ƶ’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution and part of George �鶹��Ƶ's Working Group on Forgiveness and Reconciliation along with Fuertes, traveled to Rwanda with Fuertes for the 14-day winter study-abroad program focusing on genocide, healing, and reconciliation.

A healing circle. Photo by Al Fuertes.

“I met the Rwandans via Zoom panels while in Al’s class. We learned about their stories and it just blew my mind how they were facilitating this reconciliation as a nation and how it transformed their nation from this mass atrocity that happened just a couple decades ago,” said Rambo, who has also traveled to Northern Ireland, Scandanavia, and the Philippines for peace-building missions.

“Our program partners facilitated visits to the genocide memorials, and we were able to build a space that felt safe and comfortable. We'd debrief afterward where you can share the intense feelings that you may have experienced. We're seeing really hard things, but we're able to process our emotions,” said Rambo.

Rambo has been accepted into George �鶹��Ƶ's CEHD Counseling degree program and will begin the cohort program this fall.

Rambo, Fuertes, and their program partners also have participants journal and conduct community-building activities.

“I thought of bringing healing through peace-building because it's not enough just to resolve the conflict,” said Fuertes. “If victimization is not healed, most likely, people may start embracing the victim narrative and eventually become the new perpetrator.”

In This Story

Al Fuertes

Discover the School of Integrative Studies

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College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Mental Health

Peacebuilding

Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Master of Public Administration

Examining Transnational Security Issues: A Schar School Study-Abroad Experience in Costa Rica

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 19:48:17 +0000

Examining Transnational Security Issues: A Schar School Study-Abroad Experience in Costa Rica Andrew J Schappert Mon, 04/07/2025 - 15:48

Schar School students visit Costa Rica’s Monteverde Cloud Forest to assess the impact of illegal deforestation and wildlife trafficking. Photos provided.

During this year’s spring break in March, 25 �鶹��Ƶ students, many of them graduate students at the Schar School of Policy and Government, traveled to Costa Rica for an immersive study-abroad program focused on transnational security—tackling complex issues such as human trafficking, migration, environmental crimes, and the illicit drug trade.

From left, student Hannah Townley, Salazar, and Pardo-Herrera.

Led by international development scholar Camilo Pardo-Herrera, PhD Public Policy ’19, and in partnership with Costa Rica’s Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO) University, a network of social sciences academics founded in 1957 by UNESCO, the program combined academic coursework with real-world exposure to transnational security challenges affecting Latin America and the United States.

The program began in the Costa Rican capital of San José, where students attended sessions analyzing the role of globalization in transnational crime, the economics of illicit markets, and the regional security policies shaping migration patterns. A key theme was the link between organized crime, corruption, and governance, with case studies illustrating how illicit financial flows sustain criminal enterprises.

After traveling to Monteverde, students explored environmental crime and conservation policy, visiting the Monteverde Cloud Forest and Selvatura Park to assess the impact of illegal deforestation and wildlife trafficking. Discussions focused on how environmental degradation fuels security threats, from resource conflicts to displacement. These site visits reinforced classroom discussions on how governments and nongovernment organizations combat illegal environmental activities while balancing economic development.

From left, international development scholar Camilo Pardo-Herrera, PhD Public Policy ’19, who led the trip, FLACSO Costa Rica Director Karla Salazar, and student Sarah Bissell holding her FLACsO certification of completion.

The journey continued to Arenal, where students examined the relationship between ecotourism and security policies. Through group discussions, they assessed how tourism can be leveraged to prevent illicit activities while promoting sustainable development.

Reflecting on the program, tour leader Pardo-Herrera praised the students’ engagement and enthusiasm.

“Students approached each topic with curiosity and dedication,” he said. “Seeing them connect academic theory with field observations was exciting. This experience not only deepened their understanding of transnational security but also prepared them to think critically about global solutions.”

Morian Bailey, a student in the Schar School’s master of public administration program, highlighted the value of diverse perspectives within the traveling cohort.

“The best part of this study abroad was how culturally diverse my classmates were,” she said. “Everyone had different viewpoints from their respective programs, and it was great to engage with them.”

Kayla Maxey, a senior from George �鶹��Ƶ’s School of Integrative Studies, shared that the trip was academically stimulating. “We physically went to see where the things we learned took place,” she said. “I can't wait to apply what I learned to my degree and career.”

With the support of FLACSO Costa Rica, this study-abroad experience provided a unique opportunity for students to analyze security challenges from multiple perspectives. By the end of the course, participants left with a deeper understanding of policy responses to transnational security issues—knowledge that will shape their future academic and professional pursuits.

Author Sarah Bassil is an international securities master’s student at the Schar School of Policy and Government.

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Strategic Direction

Annual Spring Break Trip to U.S.-Mexico Border Changes Perspectives

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 18:07:03 +0000

Annual Spring Break Trip to U.S.-Mexico Border Changes Perspectives Andrew J Schappert Thu, 04/03/2025 - 14:07

The spring break trip to the U.S.-Mexico border featured discussions as well as excursions.

For their March 2025 spring break, eight members of the International Relations Policy Task Force (IRTF) at �鶹��Ƶ's Schar School of Policy and Government and one Global Affairs student, along with Associate Professor Eric McGlinchey and Assistant Director of Student Engagement Emilee Duffy, traveled to the United States-Mexico border for a firsthand look at immigration issues and the challenges facing those living and working in the area.

Students got an up-close look at the border wall.

Abara, a nonprofit organization based in El Paso, Texas, dedicated to fostering peace through educational programs around immigration and border realities, hosted the students for the weeklong study-abroad trip, which is also a 1-credit course.

The packed agenda mixed discussions about migration root causes, historic and current border realities, and dignified storytelling and ethical volunteerism with visits to the border fence, a migrant shelter run by Abara, and the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez across a bridge in Mexico. There, Schar School students engaged in conversation with their peers in the Department of Social Sciences and bonded over their similar tastes in music. IRTF students also toured Ciudad Neuva, a nonprofit committed to advancing the renewal and development of central El Paso’s Rio Grande neighborhood before departing for White Sands National Park.

For Sarah Elpers, a junior government and international politics and geology double major, the trip clarified that some concepts benefit from an in-person learning experience.

A visit to White Sands National Park concluded the week.

“The articles we read are incredibly well written and informative, but they certainly paint a picture in your mind that isn’t always true,” she said. “This trip taught me that many Americans perceive the border as very dangerous and the bane of the country. In reality, however, it’s just another part of people’s lives. It’s very easy to believe what certain media puts out but being able to actually see what the border and immigration process is like puts things in perspective.”

Hakeem Osman, a junior government and international politics major, said the expedition helped him better understand immigration and policy as it pertains to people on both sides of the border. A high point for him was the visit to the migrant shelter, where he and his colleagues shared a meal with people in the process of migrating and learned more about their stories.

“This moment was impactful for me because it really highlighted the way that media narratives and reality often diverge,” he said. “Throughout the week we explored many heavy themes but we also found joy and friendship in these solemn moments. If you’re in the policy sphere I encourage you to take a step back and question the narratives shaping your perception of migrants and the immigration process. Narrative precedes policy and as policymakers it is imperative to remember that the policies you make affect real people.”

At the end of the week, students left with a broader viewpoint on the border crisis, one that may have differed from the one they arrived with.

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Strategic Direction

Graduating senior’s compass pointed her to an English degree with a side trip to Ireland

Shayla Brown — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 16:52:46 +0000

Graduating senior’s compass pointed her to an English degree with a side trip to Ireland Shayla Brown Tue, 11/26/2024 - 11:52

�鶹��Ƶ senior Katarina Benson has had five different majors throughout her college career. “Choosing what to study [was] very difficult for me, because so many fields interest me,” said Benson, who transferred from Delaware Valley University.

Benson, who grew up in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, previously majored in agribusiness, film and video, among other subjects before choosing and completing an English degree with a concentration in cultural studies.

“I’ve always loved reading and English was my favorite subject in middle school, so I eventually found my way back to where I was supposed to be,” said Benson, who is in the Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society.

Benson wore many hats during her time at George �鶹��Ƶ including editor-in-chief of Her Campus, a peer reviewer on the photography and the poetry and prose teams for Volition Literary and Arts magazine, a member of the George �鶹��Ƶ’s chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, and a buddy in the International Buddy Program. 

Benson took advantage of George �鶹��Ƶ’s study-abroad opportunities in summer 2024 by attending the University of Galway in Ireland for four weeks for the International Summer School where she took two classes, “Representing Ireland: Literature and Film” and “The Archaeological Heritage of Ireland.” Learn more about her study-abroad experience.

Katarina Benson. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding.

She also worked as an editorial assistant to the university’s �鶹��Ƶ Spirit magazine and as a public relations student coordinator in George �鶹��Ƶ’s Office of University Branding.

What’s your best memory of George �鶹��Ƶ?

I have so many good memories from the past few years but I’ll always remember when my family came to visit for Homecoming 2023. My dad, brother, and I spent the morning together making waffles in my dorm kitchen and then we went to the tailgate. George �鶹��Ƶ men’s basketball won, and it was a really great game! I’m really close with my family and Homecoming was a great opportunity to enjoy George �鶹��Ƶ together.

How have you grown while at George �鶹��Ƶ?

George �鶹��Ƶ and specifically our English Department, is one of the most welcoming and diverse communities I’ve ever been a part of. The understanding and accepting space they’ve given me has allowed me to truly explore my interests and identity. I have learned so much about myself over the past few years because of the experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met at George �鶹��Ƶ. 

Best piece of advice for incoming students?

Don’t limit yourself. I’ve tried so many new things that I've unexpectedly loved! One of my favorite experiences was going abroad, and I didn’t know if that was something I felt fully comfortable doing until I took the risk and went anyway. I had an amazing time and highly recommend just going for whatever it is that you may want to do! 

What’s next for you?

I’m taking a gap year and freelance writing. Then most likely going to graduate school. I plan on getting a master’s in something English-related; it’ll probably end up being either cultural studies, literature, or library science. 

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Schar School Freshman, Honors College Student Defers Admission for Life-Changing Year in Kyrgyzstan

Andrew J Schappert — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 18:35:25 +0000

Schar School Freshman, Honors College Student Defers Admission for Life-Changing Year in Kyrgyzstan Andrew J Schappert Fri, 10/11/2024 - 14:35

Anusha Chaluvadi could have come to �鶹��Ƶ a year earlier than she did, but the new freshman deferred admission to study Russian in the Kyrgyzstan Republic.

Anusha Chaluvadi in Fairytale Canyon, Kyrgyzstan: ‘Having the U.S. education is good, of course, but it's dangerous to only have that perspective.’ Photo provided

Her participation in the nine-month National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, that sent her to the Central Asian country in her first year after high school “truly differentiated her as an applicant” to George �鶹��Ƶ, said Eva Bramesco, director of the University Scholars program in the Honors College.

“Pursuing experiences like this in which students experience new and challenging ways of learning are perfect examples of the qualities we seek in University Scholars," Bramsco said.

As a University Scholar, Chaluvadi is among a small number of the most motivated incoming Honors College freshmen “selected through a competitive process to join a four-year cohort of student leaders, receive a full-tuition scholarship, and participate in enhanced academic and professional development programming,” Bramesco added.

Additionally, Chaluvadi is one of the first students to declare a four-year major in International Security and Law at the Schar School of Policy and Government. The one-of-a-kind bachelor of arts degree prepares graduates to become leaders in the face of crisis and to confront major threats affecting lives of millions around the globe every day.

Chaluvadi was well acquainted with George �鶹��Ƶ. Her sister, 2021 biology alum Pratyusha, also a University Scholar, is now in her final year of medical school at Virginia Commonwealth University. The Richmond, Virginia, native came to the school not only for the financial assistance but also for the proximity to Washington, D.C., where she hopes to land significant internships at key institutions.

As for deferring college to live and learn in Kyrgyzstan, Chaluvadi said she was inspired to learn Russian after being exposed to Russian literature.

“But when I read Russian literature, I don't think that I have a cultural context because I'm reading works in translation, so that loses a lot of the historical and cultural context that it would have if I read it in Russian,” she said. “And also, Russian-American relations are very complicated, and I think it's really dangerous to go into a government field or international field when you don't have both perspectives. So, I figured having the U.S. education is good, of course, but it's dangerous to only have that perspective.”

While learning the Russian language and enjoying the literature, Chaluvadi’s study-abroad experience also exposed her to the people living in the mountainous nation. What she learned from them resonated deeply.

“I got more of a post-Soviet perspective living there,” she said. “Talking to people there was really interesting because I think in the U.S. we hear that the Soviet Union was bad for everyone and no one liked it, which it has truth to it. But when you speak to the older generation in KYrgyzstan, a lot of them actually say that they preferred life in the Soviet Union, which is an opinion I would've probably never gotten if I didn't live there.”

A college year deferred? Clearly it was life-changing.

“It was the greatest experience of my life,” she said. “I miss it so much every day.”

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George �鶹��Ƶ students travel to Japan to learn about international approaches to supporting older adults

Taylor Thomas — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 13:25:23 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ students travel to Japan to learn about international approaches to supporting older adults Taylor Thomas Mon, 08/26/2024 - 09:25

Across the globe, the number of older adults is rapidly increasing and health care systems around the world are adapting to the needs of this population. This summer, a group of �鶹��Ƶ graduate and undergraduate students, led by Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work Megumi Inoue, participated in the study-abroad program in Japan—Rise of the Super-Aged Society.

Students explored policies, programs, and services to meet the unique needs of an aging global population. During the program, students visited governmental and nonprofit agencies working with the older population and interacted with local older adults in community settings.

“Study-abroad programs offer students experiential learning opportunities in different cultures that go beyond traditional classroom education. By immersing themselves in new environments, students gain practical skills in cross-cultural communication, adaptability, and problem-solving while they are studying a specific topic. They also develop a deeper understanding of local issues and perspectives, enriching their academic knowledge and broadening their worldview,” said Inoue.

Samiah Clark, a bachelor of social work student set to graduate in May of 2025, attests to how students gained valuable, firsthand knowledge that can only be accomplished through immersing oneself in the culture.

"The trip enhanced my education and observational skills surrounding the cultural differences between the U.S. and Japan,” Clark said. "Additionally, I learned about their customs of respecting older adults and traditions families partake in when caring for their parents. If I had the chance, I would go again."

The course is designed to introduce and examine strategies implemented in Japan in response to issues and challenges surrounding its rapidly aging population. Students explore the strengths and limitations of strategies that Japan has incorporated expanding their perspectives on interventions for other aging countries, including the United States.

“Taking students on study-abroad trips is important for their educational and personal development,” said Inoue. "It enriches their academic experience, enhances cultural competence, and prepares them for the globalized world. After the program, students often express how cultural exposure facilitated personal growth, professional development, and self-reflection."

Learn more about the Japan - Rise of the Super-Aged Society �鶹��Ƶ-led study abroad.

In This Story

Megumi Inoue, PhD

Topics

International Health Policy

Older Adults

healthy aging

Social Work Faculty

experiential learning

Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Navy chaplain works to build international peace

Shayla Brown — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 16:52:48 +0000

Navy chaplain works to build international peace Shayla Brown Thu, 08/15/2024 - 12:52

U.S. Navy chaplain Andrew Hoyle studied hard in the classroom to complete his master of science in conflict analysis and resolution at �鶹��Ƶ in one year, but he hasn’t stopping learning and gaining more experience. This summer, the active-duty officer interned at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington, D.C.

For his internship, Hoyle researched religions in Africa, China, Russia, and Rio de Janeiro, among other areas, looking at how the diversity of religions are embedded in cultures throughout the United States and internationally. His work culminated in an extensive article analyzing how the Russian Orthodox Church is expanding in Africa as part of Russian international relations efforts.

U.S. Navy Chaplain Andrew Hoyle. Photo provided.

Hoyle said one of his favorite internship experiences was collaborating with the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development representatives, sharing their research and knowledge on peace building.

“The U.S. Ambassador to Suriname met with our team and talked about how indigenous peace building in Surinam helped address some of the nation’s biggest concerns,” said Hoyle.

“That was so phenomenal because I not only saw collaboration between the State Department and USIP on an official level, but on a really personal level. Seeing them address how we can do things better really reinforced to me that’s what international relations is about.”

USIP also frequently hosts forums and guest lectures on specific topics in the peacebuilding field. Hoyle’s academic advisor at George �鶹��Ƶ’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, David Smith, encouraged him to attend as many as he could during his internship, he said.

“I learned so much about peace building in Africa, post-conflict societies for women in Ukraine, and how they relate to the wars happening,” Hoyle said.

“There were all kinds of interesting topics that really expanded my understanding of peacebuilding and conflict resolution on an international level.”

The United States has active-duty service members all over the world working to deter wars and build positive relationships that create stability and security, explained Hoyle.

“Those relationships happen on the international and grassroots levels, and as a military chaplain, I have a unique opportunity to be there and build those relationships through religious actor engagement,” said Hoyle.

Hoyle was able to complete his master's program in one year through the Naval Postgraduate School Civilian Institutions program.

At USIP, “I was assigned to work with the Religion Inclusive Societies Team frequently doing research on the role of military chaplains in international peace-building endeavors and how chaplains could be better leveraged to engage in those capacities,” said Hoyle.

Hoyle said his course with Carter School professor Douglas Irvin-Erickson, CONF 600 Foundations of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, laid the framework of what to expect in this field.

“The course was really foundational in my understanding of what this field is all about,” said Hoyle.

Hoyle also earned course credit with a Carter School study-abroad trip, Cambodia: Post Genocide Community Development, and Spirituality, from December 2023 to January 2024.

“We visited Buddhist monks and a monastery college, and we saw Buddhism in action culturally and did some comparison. This study-abroad experience really gave me an appetite for seeing more peacebuilding in the international community,” explained Hoyle.

Hoyle said his time with USIP will also influence his work as a chaplain.

“Throughout this internship, I observed the importance of interfaith collaboration,” he said. “One of the action guides that the team has put out is called Religion and Reconciliation, which focuses on intra- and inter-religious dialogue, and it’s something I see every day on a local level. I think that's going to be nuts and bolts for my next duty station assignment with the Navy.”

In This Story

Douglas Irvin-Erickson

David Smith

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internships

Conflict Analysis and Resolution